If you've ever had kidney stones you know the gut wrenching pain that comes with the territory. If you've had one kidney stone, you have a forty to fifty percent chance of a second kidney stone showing up later. Kidney stones are one of the most common and painful urinary tract ailments. Your chances of getting a kidney stone are higher if you are a male. Knowing this, you may ask yourself is there a natural kidney stone cure I make use of to participate in my healing?

The cure is prevention. Ninety percent of all kidney stones are due to dehydration. Because of this fact, the best and most common kidney stone cure is drinking plenty of water. To prevent kidney stones, you need to drink at least enough water to produce two quarts of urine in twenty-four hours. Cranberry juice however, is an ineffectual kidney stone cure. Cranberry juice does prevent a urinary tract infection but it is a fallacy that it also prevents kidney stones. Lemonade however, in addition with water is an excellent kidney stone cure. The citric acid in the lemonade inhibits kidney stone formation. Thus the drink is good for a kidney stone cure. Drinking two glasses of lemonade a day along with regular water intake reduces the risk of a subsequent kidney stone infection to about 5 percent.

One of the minerals that kidney stones are made up of is calcium oxalate. If you have an excess of this mineral in your urine, you may want to avoid foods that have calcium oxalate as a kidney stone cure. Foods that contain calcium oxalate are: beets, chocolate, strawberries, rhubarb, wheat bran, coffee, cola, nuts, spinach, and tea. You may also be advised to steer clear of foods with vitamin D and antacids with a calcium base.

Because the stones are made up of calcium oxalate and other minerals from a person's diet, patients in the past were counseled to refrain from dairy products as a kidney stone cure. New research suggests however, that a diet rich in foods with high calcium content such as cheese and milk may actually prevent kidney stones. Supplemental calcium pills conversely, help very little in a kidney stone cure and may even cause harm due to the fact that they increase the odds that a kidney stone will take root.

Another problem that causes kidney stones is overly acidic urine. Hence of if this is true in your case, you may be counseled to eliminate or cut back on your meat, poultry and fish consumption. These foods have a tendency to increase the acid levels in urine. There are some studies that show a vegetarian diet can act as a kidney stone cure.

Not all of these suggestions may be for you; however some of them may be quite helpful in your quest for a kidney stone cure.

Tags: natural treatment, herbal, herbal treatment, health, alternative treatment

Many arthritis sufferers are looking for an alternative treatment for arthritis pain.  There are actually three common types of arthritis.  These are Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, and psoriatic.  Osteoarthritis which is the most common, affecting around 16 million Americans with an average age of 45.  It usually will attack weight bearing joints like knees, hips, and ankles but has been found in the fingers, neck and spine.   Each of our joints is cushioned by cartilage, a very dense, sponge-like substance.  Osteoarthritis attacks that cartilage and gradually wears it down.

The second type of arthritis is Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Extremely painful and inflammatory, it strikes the lining of the joints and actually attacks two million Americans in their twenties. Psoriatic Arthritis is not as well known as the previous two, but actually eats away at the joints and can also manifest as psoriasis on the skin.  So an alternative treatment for arthritis should help alleviate the pain as well as the inflammation.

Many arthritis sufferers are looking for an alternative treatment for arthritis pain.  There are actually three common types of arthritis.  These are Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, and psoriatic.  Osteoarthritis which is the most common, affecting around 16 million Americans with an average age of 45.  It usually will attack weight bearing joints like knees, hips, and ankles but has been found in the fingers, neck and spine.   Each of our joints is cushioned by cartilage, a very dense, sponge-like substance.  Osteoarthritis attacks that cartilage and gradually wears it down.

The second type of arthritis is Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Extremely painful and inflammatory, it strikes the lining of the joints and actually attacks two million Americans in their twenties. Psoriatic Arthritis is not as well known as the previous two, but actually eats away at the joints and can also manifest as psoriasis on the skin.  So an alternative treatment for arthritis should help alleviate the pain as well as the inflammation.

The term Arthritis literally translates to joint inflammation.  If you suffer from any of the different types of Arthritis listed above, chances are you have taken drugs to combat the effects or tried other home remedies.  If you havent yet tried Urtication as an alternative treatment for arthritis, it might be helpful.  The term Urtication comes from the botanical name, Urtica dioica and dates back some 2,000 years to biblical times.  Urtica dioica is Stinging Nettle.  The alternative treatment for arthritis is to grasp the nettles in a gloved hand and swat the sore joints with the nettles.  This may seem bizarre, but the practice has proven to be so effective for some sufferers of arthritis that they now maintain a nettle plant on their window sill.

Here are a few more alternative treatment for arthritis that have worked effectively:

Black Cohosh
Also known as Black Snakeroot, Bugbane, Rattleroot, Rattleweed, Squawroot has been used as an alternative treatment for arthritis.  The dried root is the part used.   This is a powerful relaxant as well as being extremely effective with easing painful menstrual cramps.  Ovarian cramps will be relieved as well as bringing on a delayed menstrual cycle.  It is also effective in the treatment of arthritis, osteo-arthritis, rheumatic pain and neurological pan.  In small doses, appetite and digestion are greatly improved and is very beneficial for the nervous system in general.

Bogbean
Useful for as alternative treatment of rheumatism, osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.   Also has a stimulating effect on the walls of the colon and digestive juices.

Celery Seeds
Use dried ripe fruits to use as an anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, diuretic or anti-spasmodic.  Great for treating rheumatism, arthritis and gout.<br>

Chapparal
Very useful in cases of acne, arthritis, chronic backache, skin conditions of warts and blotches.  Also one of the best cancer herbs.

Feverfew
This alternative treatment for arthritis use the leaves to treat migraine headaches, arthritis, dizziness and tinnitus.

Nettle
The is the herb we referred to earlier and is another one of those universal plants.  They are found all over the world and they strengthen the entire body.  Rheumatism, arthritis, eczema, nosebleeds, arteries, lessen blood pressure are just a few applications.  Nettles contain calcium, chlorine, iron, potassium, silicon, sodium and sulphur.

Saffron
A natural hydrochloric acid (utilizes sugar of fruits and oils), thus helping arthritics get rid of the uric acid which holds the calcium deposited in the joints.  Also reduces lactic acid build up.   Good for measles, skin, scarlet fever and perspiration.

Yucca
Is another alternative treatment for arthritis that is also promising.  The extract from the plant has been used with surprising success on arthritis and rheumatism sufferers.

All of the herbs mentioned here should be available at your local health food store along with suggestions on how to prepare them for use.  Some applications will be to ingest in teas while others may facilitate creating a topical treatment.

No matter what alternative treatment for arthritis you choose please consult your physician to make certain that your course of treatment does not interfere with medications that your doctor subscribes for your treatment.

Tags: natural treatment, rheumatoid arthritis, herbal remedy, arthritis treatment

The subject of taking mineral supplements continues to be a topic of debate. Some people believe that is may be necessary to take some sort of nutritional supplement to help compensate for the poor diets most of us consume today. Yet others feel that mineral supplements should be regulated and available by prescription only. A poor diet definitely plaques our body ability to fight off diseases. Hypothyroidism is one disease that is caused by a poor diet. Can supplementing our diet with minerals and vitamins be effective in fighting diseases?

Essential minerals are true to their name, that is, they are essential to the proper functioning of the human body and in maintaining good health. Major minerals and trace minerals support the body in carrying out important bodily functions. For example, magnesium and calcium both aid the body in building strong bones and teeth. Iron is essential for producing red blood cells and transporting life giving oxygen to the organs of the body. Other minerals are involved in the manufacturing of amino acids, hormones, and proteins. The entire body from the fingernails to the nerves, skin, and vital organs rely on adequate amounts of minerals to help them function properly.

Most vitamins are water soluble which means the excess amounts of the vitamins are just eliminated in the urine or sweat and does not build up in the body to toxic amounts. However, this is not the case with minerals. There are real and sometimes life threatening dangers involved with consuming an excess amount of certain minerals. This is why there is a debate on whether mineral supplements are safe to take over the counter.

People who consistently eat a diet that is healthy, that is, a diet that is full of fruits and vegetables, nuts, good fats, and lean meats and dairy will probably get the recommended daily amounts of most minerals anyway and do not require mineral supplements. The problem is that most people do not eat that way but instead live on junk food and fast food or just pay no attention to their diet and have poor eating habits. So in these instances it makes sense to take mineral supplements to keep your body functioning as it should.

Before beginning a regimen, talk with your doctor. This is particularly important if you are pregnant or have any chronic disease or heart condition. Inform your doctor of your normal eating habits and any medications and supplements you are currently taking. Together you can make an informed decision as to whether you should take mineral supplements and if so which you should take and how much and how often.

When selecting your minerals, it is advised to go with a name brand and not shop by price alone. You can find name brand supplements at a decent price if you shop online. Choose a mineral supplement that is in combination with vitamins and antioxidants if possible. Be sure to follow the recommended dosage and don't think you will get double the benefit by doubling the dose. It doesn't work that way and can actually cause you great harm since minerals can have toxic effects. Minerals have a particular effect upon the functioning of the heart if the levels in the body are too low or too high.

Just because you are taking a vitamin and mineral supplement doesn't mean you can get slack with your diet and eat junk food and not suffer the consequences. You still need to eat a healthy diet for a wide variety of reasons; all of which will help you lead a longer and healthier life.

Tags: health, alternative treatment, herbal, herbal treatment, natural treatment